Office workers join singing flash mob on their lunch break as part of Hong Kong protests throughout Mid-Autumn Festival holiday

• Hundreds of people turn out at Chater Garden in Central where they sing protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong and chant slogans
• Day of protest begins with human chains formed at schools and will continue with events across city

By Gigi Choy and Holly Chik

Office workers singing Glory to Hong Kong and chanting protest slogans at Chater Garden in Central on Friday afternoon. 

Hundreds of office workers turned out at Chater Garden in Central at lunch time on Friday to join a 15-minute singing flash mob as part of the citywide protest against the Hong Kong government.
The protesters, some wearing masks, showed up at around 1pm and sang Glory to Hong Kong, a recently composed song that has quickly become a de facto theme song for the protest movement. They also chanted popular protest slogans such as “five demands, not one less” and “fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong”.
Jason Chong, 40, who works in finance, said he attended the rally because “Hongkongers must make their voices heard while they still can”.


SCMP Hong Kong@SCMPHongKong
A flash mob at Chater Garden in Central sings the anti-government movement’s song Glory to Hong Kong and yells popular protest slogans
Video: SCMP/Gigi Choy

9:41 AM - Sep 13, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
See SCMP Hong Kong's other Tweets
While some protesters regard the song as Hong Kong’s “national anthem”, Chong disagreed.
“A lot of people say the song is about independence but that word is not mentioned at all in the lyrics,” he said.
“The song is about what Hongkongers have felt in the past three months, it’s about the Hong Kong spirit.”

Another man joined the event to support protesters during his lunch break.
“Around 90 per cent of my colleagues support the movement and go to protests after work,” said Jason, who works in sales at a luxury watch shop in the neighbouring Landmark Prince’s.
“Of course the protests are affecting business. But we understand and find it totally acceptable.”
He says the business has seen a drop in sales of over 50 per cent compared to last year.


SCMP Hong Kong@SCMPHongKong
A flash mob at Chater Garden in Central sings the anti-government movement’s song Glory to Hong Kong
Video: SCMP/Gigi Choy

9:42 AM - Sep 13, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
See SCMP Hong Kong's other Tweets
The flash mob was one of dozens of demonstrations planned around the city on Friday, with protesters expected to gather at popular Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations sites like Victoria Park and The Peak to air their views through singing and other actions.
The day started with students forming human chains outside schools, including around 1,000 pupils and alumni from three secondary schools in Sai Wan Ho.
The masked young protesters held up hand-drawn cardboard posters, chanted slogans and sang Glory to Hong Kong.


SCMP Hong Kong@SCMPHongKong
Students from St Mark's School, one of three schools that formed a human chain in Sai Wan Ho on Friday morning, thank alumni for supporting them in the protest
Video: SCMP/Holly Chik

9:59 AM - Sep 13, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
See SCMP Hong Kong's other Tweets
“I cannot see democracy and freedom, the highest core values, in our society,” said Nicholas, 16, who declined to give his last name, a member of the concern group at Hong Kong Chinese Women’s Club College and the only student who also boycotted class.
Kary Wong, 16, a Form 5 student from the nearby Munsang College (Hong Kong Island) said that while many parents worried the protest actions might endanger their children, the youngsters had their reasons for taking part.
“This movement has a lot to do with our future,” said Wong, who helped organise a class boycott last week, which about 20 students joined.